J Is for Justice…
Justice delayed is not always justice denied.
On April 23, 2023, two young, black Tennessee state representatives were willfully and peremptorily expelled for supporting a gun control protest. Re-instatement by their districts followed swiftly, but it was an interim appointment. So, to reclaim their legislative seats Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were required to face the voters in a special election, held on August 3.
Both men won in triumphant fashion with overwhelming majorities and definitive mandates from the citizens of their respective districts. For Jones and Pearson, the will of the people represented justice in more ways than one.
For this is a story of first amendment rights, racism, victims of gun violence, gun control, and politics - wrapped in the tragedy of another school shooting.
It began five months ago, on March 27, 2023, when three nine-year old children and three adults were murdered in a shooting at Covenant, a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee. The shooter - under a doctor’s care for an unidentified emotional disorder – had stormed the school armed with two AR-15 style rifles and one hand gun – all legally purchased. Police killed the shooter at the scene.
People were distraught for the victims and their families. And they were outraged. Their anger fueled a demand for stronger gun restrictions, which led to a protest, one month later, in front of the state legislature.
Jones, Pearson, and fellow Democrat Gloria Johnson tried to voice their support and suggestions for gun reform legislation. When their mics were turned off by the speaker, the three went to the House floor and used a megaphone to call for new gun laws and safety restrictions. To shut them down and avoid further discussion of gun control (and the unspoken impact on gun manufacturers), the legislature’s GOP majority voted to expel the “Tennessee Three.” Johnson says the only reason she was spared is because she is white.
For “the Justins” (as they are now known), their constituents, and the democratic process, justice may have been delayed, but it has prevailed. More importantly, this is not the end, but the beginning. Based on pressure from citizens, the Tennessee legislature will be taking up the subject of gun safety at a special session on August 21st.
Johnson, Jones Pearson
GA State Reps.
This case drew national attention. It gave the Justins a platform and financial backing that stretch across the country. People will be watching what happens next - to them, their careers, and the politics in Tennessee. The light of justice is bright indeed.
Answer to Unpacking Education, No. 21, Question of the Day:
According to the CDC, almost one in five children ages 2 to 19 suffer from obesity. So, the correct answer is d) 14.7 million, and trending upward. Contributing factors are sociological, cultural, and economic – all impacted by the severe cut back in recess and PE in most U.S. schools.